What’s the Difference Between Tuberculosi...Latent tuberculosis or TB is an infection that is not symptomatic or contagious. What causes latent tuberculosis? How do you know if you have it? What precautions should you take if you have it?

How Do You Know You Have Tuberculosis?Active Tuberculosis or TB is a deadly disease that is on the rise in the U.S. Find out what causes active TB, what its symptoms are, and what treatment options are available

Everything You Need to Know About Strep ThroatStrep throat is a common kids' infection that is more prevalent in the winter and spring months. Find out about its symptoms, treatment options, prevention methods, and complications associated with the diseases.

Can Clostridium Difficile Cause Colitis?Clostridium difficile bacterial disease is on the rise, causing more and more cases of hospital-borne infection. Find out the symptoms of Clostridium difficile colitis and how to treat and prevent infection. Read more about Toxins A and B of Clostridium difficile and how they contribute to the disease.

Is It Safe to Eat Raw Fish?What are the infectious disease risks associated with eating sushi? Read about parasites and other microbial infections associated with raw or undercooked fish.

Is Tuberculosis Still a Worldwide Epidemic?Tuberculosis, or TB, also known as consumption, is a worldwide epidemic that is on the rise in the U.S. Find out about its symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, prognosis, and prevention.

Is It Strep Throat or Just a Cold?How do you know if you have strep throat or just a sore throat from a cold? Find out how to distinguish if it is strep throat and find out what your doctor will look for.

Hand, Foot, and Mouth DiseaseHand, Foot, and Mouth Disease is a common childhood infection associated with outbreaks in child care settings. It is usually caused by Coxsackie virus or Enterovirus 71. Learn about its symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of the disease

Can You Get Sick From Cow's Milk?It's a staple in most households, but do you know the infectious disease risks associated with milk and other dairy products? Why is pasteurization important? How do you prevent milk-borne diseases?

6 Ways to Tell if You Have Strep ThroatWhat is strep throat? What are its symptoms? How is it diagnosed and treated? Why do I need to take all of the antibiotics if I'm already feeling better? Find out answers to these questions and more.

What Can Cytomegalovirus Mean for Your Unborn...Cytomegalovirus, or CMV, is the largest of all viruses and infects most people some time in their life. Most infections are harmless, but transmission of the virus from pregnant women to their fetuses can cause permanent disabilities.

How to Choose the Right Antibiotics for...With so many different kinds of antibiotics available, how does your health care provider know which to prescribe? Find out what your doctor needs to know before choosing the right antibiotic.

Why Is Mono Nicknamed the Kissing Disease?Mono or Mononucleosis is sometimes called the Kissing Disease because it is common among young adults and teenagers and spread through saliva. Find out more about symptoms of Mono and how to treat the disease.

Can You Get Cholera From Drinking Water?Find out about symptoms, treatment, and prevention of cholera, caused by the bacteria, Vibrio cholera. Learn about the epidemiology of this common epidemic and tips for travelers on preventing infection.

Are Pickles and Smoked Salmon Really Good for...Preserving food with salt is an ancient human practice that dates back before written records. Beef jerky, pickles, and smoked salmon are all examples of common foods that are preserved using salt. But are salty foods really safer to eat?

E. coli O157:H7What is E. coli? Are all strains of E. coli dangerous? What are its symptoms? Where do you get it? How do you prevent disease?

Diarrhea Got You Down In the Dumps? How to...Diarrheal diseases are a significant cause of sickness and death throughout the world. Read more about the different kinds of diarrhea and the kinds of microbes that cause these infections. Get tips on treatment and prevention of diarrhea.

Community-Acquired Methicillin-Resistant Staph...CA-MRSA, or community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, has been a growing concern among athletes, students, and military recruits. Find out some important facts about the MRSA superbug and how you can avoid CA-MRSA infections.

MumpsMumps is a viral disease characterized by “chipmunk cheeks”. It is preventable with the MMR vaccination. Find out more about symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of Mumps

Cruises Got You Cruising to the Bathroom?Commonly associated with cruise ships, Norovirus, also known as Norwalk or Norwalk-like virus, is a major cause of diarrheal disease, commonly referred to as the stomach flu. Find out more about the symptoms, treatment, and prevention of norovirus.

Jock Itch ProfileJock Itch, or ringworm of the groin, is a fungal infection that affects the groin and inner thighs. Find out more about its symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention.

Evolution of Personal HygieneDid you know that people did not always wash their hands before eating or after going to the bathroom? How was the importance of clean water discovered? What kind of impact did invention of the flush toilet make on society? Find out how personal hygiene evolved from the mid-19th century to the daily practices we use today.

Healthcare-Acquired Methicillin-Resistant...Hospital-acquired or healthcare-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, or HA-MRSA, comprises a large proportion of MRSA infections in the US. Find out more about symptoms of MRSA associated with hospital settings, treatment options, and tips for prevention

Can Infections During Pregnancy Pose a Risk to...Serious birth defects and even fetal death can occur following some infections in pregnant women. Find out which infectious diseases can lead to long-term defects and whether or not you should be tested for them.

How Stress Increases Your Risk of DiseaseCan stress really increase your likelihood of getting sick? How does stress impact your immune system? Which infections are you more prone to getting when stressed? What can you do about it?

Bird Flu Infections in HumansBird Flu or Avian Influenza has been in recent news. Find out more about what it is, its symptoms, methods of treatment, and how to prevent bird flu.

Disproving the Myths of Milk PasteurizationPasteurization of milk is an important process that limits the spread of milk-borne infectious diseases. Learn more about the different processes used for pasteurization. Find out the truth about pasteurized vs. raw milk.

Bloody Diarrhea, or Hemorrhagic Colitis, Caused...E. coli O157:H7 is a common cause of foodborne outbreaks. It has been associated with hamburger, apple juice, and unpasteurized dairy products. It causes a disease called hemorrhagic colitis, characterized by bloody diarrhea. Find out more about symptoms, treatment, and prevention of E. coli O157:H7 infections.

What You Should Know About EbolaEbola is a viral hemorrhagic fever, currently spreading in West Africa. It is spread through direct contact with a person (or their body fluids) who is ill with Ebola. Before a patient has symptoms from Ebola, they cannot transmit the infection.

What Is Salmonella and How Can You Avoid It?Salmonella seems to be making its way into the news more and more each year, but is it something we should be worried about? Find out which kinds of diseases are caused by Salmonella and how to avoid getting it.

Food Poisoning: Staphylococcus aureus in FoodExplosive vomiting and tummy troubles after the school picnic? Sounds like Staphylococcus aureus food poisoning. Find out what foods are commonly contaminated with Staph and whether or not you should be worried.

Lyme DiseaseLyme disease is spread through tick bites. Learn about its symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention.

What's so bad about measles?Measles is real. It can be a serious infection in some. It spreads anonymously before any rashes in the air before anyone knows they're infected.

MeaslesMeasles, also known as Rubeola, is a leading cause of death of young children worldwide, despite the availability of an inexpensive and effective MMR vaccine. Find out about symptoms, diagnosis, and prevention of measles.

Rotavirus Diarrheal DiseaseRotavirus is the leading cause of severe dehydrating diarrhea in small children both in the United States and worldwide. Read more about symptoms, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of rotavirus.

Toxoplasmosis Congenital DiseaseToxoplasmosis, caused by Toxoplasma gondii, can cause a nasty congenital infection in fetuses. The infection is transmitted from cat or kitten feces to pregnant women to their unborn babies. Find out about the symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of Toxoplasmosis.

Ear Infections – Otitis MediaEar infections, or otitis media, are a common childhood infection, afflicting most infants and small children. Find out what are ear infections, and their symptoms, diagnosis, prognosis, treatment, and prevention.

The MMR Vaccine: Measles, Mumps, and RubellaThe MMR vaccine is a combination vaccine made up of three live, attenuated viruses, Measles, Mumps, and Rubella. Find out more about the MMR vaccine and who should or should not receive it. Learn about its safety and effectiveness against these three childhood viruses.

AnisakiasisScared of sushi? The Anisakis worm is a parasite that can cause nasty infections in humans who enjoy eating raw fish.

Superbugs on the RiseSuperbugs are bacteria that are resistant to multiple kinds of antibiotics, making treatment a challenge. Find out which strains of bacteria are becoming superbugs and are becoming public health issues.

Infections from Microbes in Contaminated FoodsMany infectious diseases occur when consuming foods contaminated with viruses, bacteria, and other microbes. Find out how these microbes make you sick and what you can do to prevent disease.

Athlete's FootAthlete's foot, also known as ringworm of the foot, is a fungal infection that causes itchy, scaly skin between the toes. Learn about its symptoms, treatment, diagnosis, and tips for preventing athlete's foot.

Can a cat scratch be dangerous?Cats can be cute - but they bring home more than mice. Scratches and bites can cause infections, from cat-scratch disease to MRSA bacteria to rabies.

Seasonality of Winter VirusesIf seasonal illnesses are caused by viruses and other microbes, how does one explain the phenomena of the cold being associated with getting sick more frequently? It turns out there may be some truth to this old wives' tale after all.

The Threat of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococ...Infections from methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, also known as the MRSA superbug, have been increasing over the past decade. Find out what the MRSA superbug is and why it's a problem. Learn about symptoms of different kinds of MRSA, treatment options, and tips for prevention.

Rubella Congenital Disease ProfileRubella, or German measles, causes a congenital disease that can result in spontaneous abortion, prematurity, and severe birth defects. Find out more about symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of rubella.

Disease-Free DaycaresDaycare centers don't have to be germ centers. Find out why child care centers and preschools are common sources of infectious diseases. Learn some tips for keeping your child's daycare center free of nasty germs and infections

What You Need to Know About BotulismBotulism, caused by ingestion of Clostridium botulinum or its toxin, can be deadly for its victims. Find out more about symptoms, treatment, and prevention of this disease.

The Truth About DaycaresFind out the truth about daycare-associated infections and what causes them. Did you know there are even some health-related benefits for children who attend daycare centers and preschools? Keep reading to find out more!

What is Salmonellosis?Salmonella is a major cause of food-borne outbreaks in the United States. Find out what it is, how it causes disease and how to prevent and treat it.

Wait, the Plague is back, really?The news says: Plague in Madagascar. The plague actually never went away. It still infects rodents. We've tamed the bacteria - through pest control and antibiotics, but cases crop up whether in Africa or the US.

What is the herd?The herd is us - when diseases spread person to person. On the news are the words: MMR, Measles, Mumps, Chickenpox, Rubella, HPV. We are the herd for all of these diseases.

How did drug resistant TB come to be?Tuberculosis was once a disease with no treatment. When full treatment and monitoring isn't available for all, TB that resists treatment spreads. We all risk no treatment when there isn't treatment for all.

Rotavirus Vaccine RadarThe Rotateq vaccine is a promising new vaccine for rotavirus infection that leads to severe diarrhea in small children. Find out how well it works and how safe it is.

What is Schistosomiasis?A simple snail is responsible for a disease that affects 200 million people - and may have helped spread HIV and Hepatitis C.

Rats, Mosquitoes, and Snakes, Oh My!Hurricane Ike devastated the city of Galveston, Texas on the morning of September 13th, 2008. In its aftermath, returning residents to Galveston are finding themselves amidst swarms of rotting herd animals, mosquitoes, rats, and snakes. To top it off, there is limited drinking water, electricity, and medical care. What are the infectious disease risks associated with the aftermath of Hurricane Ike, and what can the residents of Galveston do about it? How can we help?

Shigella and Shigellosis Foodborne DiseaseShigella is an infectious food-borne bacteria that can cause severe diarrhea, known as dysentery or Shigellosis. Find out symptoms of Shigella infections and how to treat and prevent disease.

The doctors say she has sepsis.Sepsis sends over 1 million to the hospital each year. Severe sepsis is a scary diagnosis - and one of the costliest for the healthcare system.

Can Ebola lead to Measles?One disease can lead to another. One outbreak can disrupt prevention of another. As Ebola recedes in West Africa, we are entering measles transmission season with lower vaccination rates than before the Ebola outbreak.

Bird Flu PandemicBird flu, or avian influenza, has been in recent news, with many poultry farms being wiped out by this deadly virus of birds. Government authorities are concerned about the risk for an influenza pandemic, or worldwide spread of the virus.

What is German Measles?Rubella - also called German Measles - is often confused with Measles - also called Rubeola. The diseases though are different. Rubella can cause problems at birth for children of affected mothers.

What is West Nile Virus?An infection that was a surprise in 1999 has become a part of the summer throughout the US. A mosquito bite makes West Nile an unwanted summertime visitor.

Penny-Pinching Pills and Prevention TipsEconomic woes got you down? Times of financial stress can make you more prone to infections. Find out some quick and easy ways you can save money and stay free of infections.

What a bright red tongue might meanScarlet Fever was once a common disease of childhood. The bacteria that causes strep throat causes the disease, but good hygiene and antibiotics have halted it. It's been creeping back, though.